The Convenience Awards 2024: What makes a winner?

 

Convenience Retailer of the Year

Costcutter Nuneaton triple ‘a’ Foodhall, Warwickshire

A store unlike any other in the country, Shaan Chaudry of triple ‘a’ Foodhall in Nuneaton has been named Convenience Retailer of the Year. Designed as a hub for the community, the store has quickly become a destination store for people in surrounding towns looking for something different, either within grocery or food to go. Taking inspiration from sites in Canada and Ireland, the store’s stand-out features include a homemade ice cream kiosk, extensive food to go section, a significant beers, wines and spirits offer and a bakery counter that rivals the multiples. Customer service plays a big part of the store’s success, with a greeter on hand to help new shoppers or flag up new products while major investment in branding, right down to the ceiling colour, helps give triple ‘a’ Foodhall a unique look compared to the competition.

Independent Convenience Store of the Year

Spar Oxford Road, Greater Manchester

Located in the heart of Manchester, Spar Oxford Road, run by Paul Stone, is a store that is busy 24/7. The judges were blown away by the 24-hour effort that goes into making this store a success, with a huge focus on Feed Me Now and the Big Night In missions. The site underwent a major refit in early 2023 to improve its refrigeration, lighting and air conditioning while also introduce more shelf space to enhance its snacking and soft drinks offering. These changes helped contribute to an 18% uplift in sales while reducing electricity consumption by 28%. Beers, Wines and Spirits is a major category for the store, and the judging panel was impressed by the high standards on display that helps keep nearby competition from Tesco and Sainsbury’s at bay.

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Multiple Managed Convenience Store of the Year

Spar Malone Road, Co. Antrim

Billed as a convenience store with the feeling of a community neighbourhood retailer, Spar Malone Road is a one stop shop for everything a customer may need. Its customer base takes in business, residential properties, a University, schools and churches, making it essential for the store to cater to a wide variety of needs. The store saw a 19% year-on-year increase in weekly store sales while basket spend rose 7% which the Spar Malone Road team attributes to increased customer loyalty driven by a strong grocery offering and in-store services options to keep shoppers coming back. The store’s ‘Tell Us First’ feedback initiative keeps customers at the forefront of change and allows management to change quickly to suit evolving shopper needs, helping create a more positive and welcoming shopper experience.

Large Convenience Store of the Year

Costcutter Nuneaton triple ‘a’ Foodhall, Warwickshire

Taking elements from around the globe, the team at triple ‘a’ Foodhall has created a retail proposition that wowed not only the industry and shoppers but also the judging panel for this category. Run by Shaan Chaudry, the store has become a destination site for the area and is putting Nuneaton on the map. The 4,000sq ft store boasts a top quality food to go offering which includes homemade ice cream, gyros, kebabs and stone-baked pizzas, alongside a grocery and beers, wines and spirits section that caters for everyday shoppers. As well as the retail side, the store has a huge presence in the community, having purchased a disused local church to be used by community groups and plans to organise family days in the car park during the summer.

Community Initiative of the Year

Cost of Living Discount

One Stop Packmoor, Staffordshire

Operated by Convenience Store Champion Dee Sedani, The Cost of Living Discount promotion offered 10% to customers who spend more than £10 on selected days to help shoppers at One Stop Packmoor in Staffordshire that are struggling with rising costs. What started off as a one-month initiative, the idea proved so invaluable to customers that the store kept it running, and it helped shoppers save a massive £13,670 over the first four months. The judging panel was impressed with Dee’s approach to helping those suffering during the cost of living crisis and putting his community before profit. As well as this initiative, Dee and his team support local sports clubs and community groups, as well as helped pupils at the nearby school with learning equipment.

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Community Retailer of the Year

Costcutter Swanage, Dorset

The judging panel was impressed by the team’s work in supporting their community from a charity and a business point of view. The Poppy Appeal, Daffodil Cancer Appeal, Julie Manning Hospice Care, RNLI are just some of the charities the business supports while it also works with local suppliers to enhance the store’s range and highlight producers in their area. The store is described as a proper community hub that includes a post office with home-made ready-meals, butchers, and an on-site bakery. The business has been in the same family since 1908 and current owner Chris Tomes is a local councillor, chairman of the Tourism Committee and lead councillor for the Sport, Leisure and Wellbeing Working Party and Events Party.

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Retailers’ Retailer of the Year

Anand Cheema, Costcutter Fresh in Falkirk, Stirlingshire

The judging panel, made up of independent retailers, chose Anand Cheema as the winner for this category for the determination and dedication he shows in every aspect of his business. They praised him for his forward-thinking and how he remains one step ahead of the game, with one judge commenting on how the sector will be in great hands with retailers like Anand.

With a background in finance, everything Anand does in store is aimed at making the store the most efficient and profitable as it can be. The panel was very impressed by his ability to see an opportunity and ‘go for it’, with initiatives such as a premium spirits section, beer keg offer and American confectionery being recent introductions.

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Convenience Rising Star of the Year

Nakendram ‘Theepan’ Piratheepan, Londis Cinderford, Gloustershire

Bursting onto the scene in 2020, Theepan has built a portfolio of 18 sites across Wales and the South-West of England. Theepan worked at the first of his sites in Mid Glam to properly understand the business and community in to help him grow his estate. Not content with growing his store empire, Theepan is currently taking a Masters in International Business at the University of Gloucestershire. He has already invested heavily in the business, upgrading his stores to enhance both the fuel and food to go offerings. As well as managing the stores, he has also committed to giving 10% of the business’ profits to charity, working with his staff to determine which charities should benefit from this generous offer.

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Customer Delivery Store of the Year

Welcome Faversham, Kent

Over the last 18 months, operator Sandeep Bains and his team have been building up the store’s delivery offer with a massive focus on shopper communication. Working with social media platforms and delivery apps, Sandeep is able to reach his community directly to showcase the best offers and deliver them directly. With the delivery arm of his business contributing 25% of weekly turnover, it has become a vital part of Welcome Faversham’s offering. Sandeep worked with Snappy Shopper to integrate his delivery service into his epos system, resulting in a smoother operation for staff and customers, allowing the latter to keep up to date with store promotions. He also works to improve customer loyalty with gifts for new customers and regular discount campaigns to his 6,000 social media followers.

Food to Go Store of the Year

Costcutter University of Warwick, Warwickshire

Run by Fabio Finocchiaro, the store’s food to go range, which covers everything from sushi to sandwiches, impressed the judging panel. With strong competition at the University of Warwick from 16 other foodservice outlets, Fabio and his team have schooled their campus rivals on how to provide a quality food to go offer across all meal occasions. The food to go offering makes up a massive 40% of the store’s overall turnover and the team at Costcutter University of Warwick have created an offer to rival any foodservice outlet that provides meal-specific promotions and discount deals to keep customers well-fed but not out of pocket. The store recently benefitted from an investment in the category in the form of new ovens and hot cabinets to improve its bakery offer.

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New Store/Refit of the Year

Tout’s Cleeve, North Somerset

Designed and delivered by Jon and Zena Tout, Tout’s Cleeve has been tailor-made for the local community and provides a unique twist on a traditional forecourt store. Featuring an eye-catching design that creates a unique shopper journey, Tout’s Cleeve has been impressing shoppers as well as the judging panel for this category. With a focus on hero categories such as fresh produce, meat, bread & cakes, food to go and alcohol, the store combines a solid branded grocery offering with local suppliers. The store has also benefitted from a significant investment in technology, with media screens to market to customers and electronic shelf-edge labelling to reduce time spent changing labels as well as the Tout’s loyalty card which runs across the family’s three stores.

Responsible Retailer of the Year

Costcutter Epsom, Surrey

With a philosophy of running an honest business, owner Sue Nithyanandan has put rigorous processes in place when it comes to age-related sales and works with the local authorities to ensure they are kept up. Her processes take in all age-related categories including alcohol, tobacco, vaping, lottery, and sharp objects, and the store has gained a strong reputation in the community for being responsible. It also invests in additional measures such as additional private security for busy evenings to ensure staff safety.

Putting people before profit, Sue has refused to stock certain products in the past as she felt that if she couldn’t sell it in a responsible way, she shouldn’t sell it at all. The store is also signed up to the Women’s Night Safety Charter for London, with staff having had Bystander Intervention Training against harassment.

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Sustainability Retailer of the Year

Central Co-op Dodworth Community Store, South Yorkshire

Described as the most sustainable site in the Central Co-op estate, sustainability is at the very heart of this store, with green initiatives running across wastage, energy usage, ranging and community outreach. It is used as the benchmark for sustainability in the group and is a worthy winner of this category. The store has solar photovoltaic cells which convert thermal energy into electricity while KwiQly software has allowed the team to closely monitor gas and electric consumption to help reduce it where possible. It also works with FareShare to redistribute surplus food and avoid wastage, and offers customers a zero-waste refill station for products like cereals, pasta, and coffee. The store’s team also work with nearby schools to help educate pupils about sustainability and get them involved with local green projects.

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Sales Colleague of the Year

Kruti Thaker, Family Shopper Broadoak, Greater Manchester

Judges were impressed with Kruti’s ability to think independently, take initiative and for her willingness to go above and beyond her core role at Family Shopper Broadoak. They praised her work with local suppliers and how she has developed a comprehensive training process for the business that has helped other staff members follow in her footsteps. Kruti’s efforts with local charities, including organising fundraisers, have helped raised the store’s profile within the community while supporting important causes in the area. Never resting on her laurels, her appetite for learning by continuously seeking opportunities for self-improvement and professional development also singled her out for praise from the judging panel in this category.

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Small Convenience Store of the Year

Scotmid Ballantrae, South Ayrshire

A pivotal part of the local community, Scotmid Ballantrae has a big focus on food to go to cater to its customers during the main meal occasions throughout the day. Its location in South Ayrshire means it needs to provide for local shoppers and commuters in a 1,400sq ft store.

A recent refit has led to a push on sustainability in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint while investment in technology such as Electronic Shelf Edge Labelling has given this store a modern twist on a community hub. The store’s team works closely with the close-knit community to support local causes and build relationships with regular customers while training and upskilling of staff is a major focus for management.

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Retailers’ Favourite Symbol Group

Londis

The Retailers’ Favorite Symbol Group Award draws upon insights from retailers affiliated with nine symbol groups and meticulously gathers satisfaction scores across various criteria, encompassing elements such as business comprehension, promotional vigor, margin strength, ordering convenience, and the breadth and availability of products.

With an impressive outlet expansion of nearly 3% in the past year, Londis’ concerted efforts in refining and revamping its formats have been described as nothing less than admirable. In an industry where competition for outlet recruitment remains intense, securing the vote of confidence from fellow retailers is a fantastic recognition and makes them worthy winners of this category.

Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Store Group

Premier

The Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Store Group category celebrates excellence in the convenience industry, and the winner is found through insights provided by the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme. This programme stands as the UK’s premier survey, annually engaging with over 50,000 convenience shoppers, resulting in a meticulous data selection across a spectrum of satisfaction metrics—ranging from availability and product choice to value for money and promotions.

Commenting on the winner, Jill Livesey, managing director at Lumina Intelligence, said: “It’s impressive to see Premier win the Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Store Group award this year. With over 4000 stores, Premier has the largest number of outlets in the UK and continues to expand. We have seen shoppers benefit from a larger offering of chilled and food to go solutions and the soft drinks cave being a particular traffic driver.”

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Shoppers’ Favourite Multiple Convenience Group

M&S Simply Food

The Shoppers’ Favourite Multiple Convenience Store Group category celebrates excellence in the convenience industry, and the winner is found through insights provided by the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme. This programme stands as the UK’s premier survey, annually engaging with over 50,000 convenience shoppers, resulting in a meticulous data selection across a spectrum of satisfaction metrics—ranging from availability and product choice to value for money and promotions.

With 316 sites around the UK, M&S Simply Food is renowned for its high-quality offering as well as work on sustainability across its estate. Shoppers were impressed by the range on offer in Simply Food stores and the availability of quality produce, all of which tipped the balance in favour of M&S Simply Food for this category. 

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Shoppers’ Favourite Symbol Group

Premier

The Shoppers’ Favourite Symbol Group category celebrates excellence in the convenience industry, and the winner is found through insights provided by the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme. This programme stands as the UK’s premier survey, annually engaging with over 50,000 convenience shoppers, resulting in a meticulous data selection across a spectrum of satisfaction metrics—ranging from availability and product choice to value for money and promotions.

Progressive work on chilled and food to go availability helped set Premier apart from the competition in this category. The symbol group’s recent expansion and willingness to innovate in stores to help its retailers offer shoppers something different while stocking the essential lines helped Premier win this award in a highly-competitive category.